Snowplow



March 12, 1929. BECKER 1,705,389

SNOWPLOW Filed May is. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet Fey. 1

mam-m INVINTOI ATTO R N Y March 12, 1929. F. M. BECKER 1,705,389

SNOWPLOW Fiied May 1a, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM IIMMI] NM NNNNNN OR March 12, 1929. BECKER 1,705,389

SNOWPLOW Filed May 1a, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTO R N [Y Max-ch12, 1929. F. M. BECKER SNOWPLOW Filed May 18. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 12, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK M. BECKER, F BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA.

SNOWILOW.

Application filed May 18,

My present invention has reference to a snow cleaning machine which is motor propelled and operated, and whlch includes means for gathering the snow, delivering the same to. a conveyor, regulating the feed of the conveyor, delivering the snow from the conveyor onto a triturator and delivering the water emanated by the triturator on to the forward or receiving end of the device to melt or soften the snow at such receiving end so that the same can be more readily gathered and again conveyed into and treated in the machine.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, w 1th the understanding, however, that the mprovement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a snow plow in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectional view thcrethrough.

Figure 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the scoop.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view approximately on the line 66 of Figure 1.

In carrying out my invention I employ a wheeled frame. On the frame there is supported a cab 2 which is arranged directly above the drive wheels t of the improvement. The frame supports thereon a motor 5 which is preferably of the internal combustion typo of engines and which is provided with the usual control means for imparting motion to the axle for the drive wheels, for reversing the travel of the machine and for otherwise regulating the speed of travel or disconnecting the drive shaft when the motor is in operation. As these features are common in all motors of this type a detailed description thereof will not be attempted, but the motor operates a shaft 6 which is arranged transversely to its drive shaft.

The rear end of the frame 1 is preferably 1927. Serial No. 192,398.

elevated and is provided with steps that lead to the cab or body 2. On the outer end of the hood portion 7 of the cab and -motor there is fixedly secured a cylindrical casing 8. The casing 8 may be of any desired length and preferably is comparatively thick or otherwise corrugated longitudinally to form the same with equidistantly spaced inner concavities that provide pockets 9. The forward wheels of the frame support the casing adjacent to the outer end thereof, and the outer end of the casing is cut at a downward inclination, as clearly disclosed by the drawings. This inclined front of the casing 8 is formed with an outwardly directed flange that is contacted by and has riveted thereto an outstanding flange on the outwardly curved side members or wings 10 of the improvement.

The bottom of the casing, at its said outer and flanged end has hingedly supported thereon, as at 11, the scoop of the improvement. As disclosedespecially by Figure 5 of the drawings, the scoop is made u r of any desired number of sections 12 and t e outer edge of these sections have secured thereto equidistantly spaced upwardly curved fingers 13. Fixed on the straight portions of the fingers that connect the same with the respec tive sections of the scoop 12 there are bearing lugs 14 that contact with the ground surface. The end members of the scoop have their outer edges shaped to conform to the shape of the wings 10.

If desired the outer and open end of the cylinder 8 may have a spider arranged therein, but in any event there is arranged central ly and longitudinally in the c linder a shaft 15. This shaft is journaled t lrough a bearing opening in a spider 16 in the cylinder and is likewise journaled through a bearing opening in the rear Wall 17 of the cylindrical body 8. The inner end of the shaft has fixed thereon a gear 18 that is in mesh with a pinion 19 journaled on a transverse shaft 20. Fixed on the shaft 20 there is a sprocket wheel over which is trained an endless chain 21 that is likewise trained over a sprocket wheel 22 that is fixed on the shaft 6. Freely mounted on the shaft 15 disposed directly opposite the inner wall 17 of the body 8 there is the hub 23 of a cone-shaped member 23' Whose outer face is corrugated and which face is disposed opposite longitudinal ribs or enlargements 24 in the said body 8. The member 23 and its ribs 24 comprise the triturator and the said triturator is held stationary in the casing 8. The member 23' is of metal and the ribs or enlargements 24 thereon are preferably of emery. Forward of the bearing spider 16 there is fixed on the shaft 15 a screw conveyor 25. The conveyor terminates at the outer end or at the inlet mouth of the cylindrical bo'd 8.

The top of the body 8, at the outer inlet endthereof is formed with a notch or opening 26, and in a line with the longitudinal walls provided by said opening the said body is rovided with upstanding cars 27. J ournalcd between these ears there is a shaft 28. Freely revoluble on the shaft 28 there is a head member 29. The head member 29 is peripherally formed with oppositely arranged equidistantly spaced outstanding ears 30. Three pair of such ears are preferably provided, and the ears gradually decrease in width from their connection with the heads to the outer end thereof. Pivoted, as at 31, between each pair of cars 30 there are feeder blades 32. These blades are shaped to be received between the ribs of the spider conveyor 25, and when the conveyor is revolved the blades will be successively brought between the outer pairs of ribs of the said conveyor. The blades provide means for feeding the snow between the ribs of the conveyor and in a like manner the pockets 9 provide means for preventing the rapid travel of the snow through the ribs of the conveyor onto the triturator 23. r

The chamber in the cylindrical body 8, be-

tween the spider 16 and the wall 17 is designed for the reception of water which emanates from the triturator, and this water is'conveyed to a chamber 33 on whose lower wall there is secured a casing 34 for intermeshing gears 35 and 36 respectively. The gear 35 has a shaft 39 provided with a pinion that is in mesh with a second pinion on a transverse shaft 40. The shaft 40 is journaled on suitable bracket bearings 41 on the inner or rear face of the plate 17. The shaft 40 has fixed thereon a sprocket wheel around which there is trained an endless sprocket chain 42 which is also trained around a sprocket wheel 43 on the motor driven shaft 6. i

The shaft for the gear 36 operates a rotary. pump and leading from the casing 33 for delivering water therefrom, when the pump is actuated, there are oppositely directed upwardly and rearwa'rdly inclined pipes 45, the outlet ends of which being rounded and being disposed at the sides of the outer and inlet pump is fixed on a shaft 39 thatcarries a pinion which is in mesh with a second pinion on the transverse shaft 40.

The operation of the improvement may be briefly described as follows: When the motor is operated the machine will be propelled in a forward direction. In this connection it might be well to state that suitable guide mechanism is provided for the front wheels of the device and operated by the usual steering mechanism in the cab 2. The sectional scoop will plow into the snow and direct the same upwardly into the cylindrical casing or housing 8 when the same is engaged by the conveyor 25 and delivered thereby onto the triturator 23'. The blades 32 will feed the snow between the ribs of the conveyor, while parts of the snow will be received in the pockets 9 to prevent the snow from traveling too rapidly between the ribs of the conveyor. The rear end or rib of the conveyor compresses the snow against the ribbed and corrugated triturator 23, and this snow is also,acted on by the ribs 24 in the rear chamber of .thebody 8. The water emanated from the triturated snow will be delivered through a passage 44 between the triturator and the conveyor into the chamber 33 and will be acted on by the pump therein so that such water is forcibly ejected through the pipes 45 onto the banks of snow in the front of the machine. In thismanner it Will be noted that practically all of the snow received in the machine is reduced to a fluid state and as the same is forcibly ejected through the pipes 45 the street or path at the forward end of the machine will not only have the snow removed therefrom but will be effectively washed and cleaned. I

Having described the invention, I claim 1. A snow cleanin apparatus comprising a wheel supported cy indrical casing, a spiral conveyor in the casing, a conical fixed triturator at the rear of the conveyor, said casing having a chamber below the triturator, a rotary pump in the chamber, pipes leading from the pump to the forward end of the easing and means for simultaneously propelling the casing, and operating the conveyor and pump. p

2. A snow cleaning apparatus comprising a wheel supported cylindrical casing that has spaced longitudinal grooves forming pockets, a spiral conveyor in the casing, a conical fixed triturator in the casing at the rear of the conveyor, said casing having a chamber below the triturator, a rotar pump in the chamber, pipes leading from the chamber to the forward end of the casing and means for simultaneously propelling the casing and for operating the conveyor and pump.

3. A snow cleaning a paratus comprising a wheel supported cylm rical casing, which is rovided with equidistantly spaced grooves orming inner pockets, a spiral conveyor in the casing,- a revoluble head, pivotally supported feeder blades thereon movable between the spirals of the conveyor, a fixed triturator at the rear of the conveyor, said casing having a chamber below the triturator', a rotary pump in the chamber, pipes leading from the chamber to the forward end of the casing, and

' means for simultaneously propelling the easing and operating the conveyor and pump.

4. A snow cleaning apparatus comprisin a wheeled motor driven cylindrical casing an a pivotally supported sectional scoop on the lower and outer end of the casing, outwardly curved ribs on the sides of the casing at the said ends thereof, a spiral conveyor in the casing and having its outer end disposed over the scoop, pivotally supported revolubl mounted feeder blades on the scoop designe upon the rotation of the conveyor to be successively received between the outer ribs of the conveyor, a ribbed frusto conical triturator fixed in the casing in the rear of the conveyor, said cdnveyor having a chamber below the triturator, a rotary pump in the chamber, pipes leading from the chamber to the front end of the casing, and means actuated by'the motor for the conveyor for simultaneously imparting rotary motions to the conveyor and the pump.

5. A snow cleanin apparatus comprising a motor propelled w eeled frame having a cylindrical casin supported thereon and the rear wall of t e casing being curved, the outer end of the casing being cut at an inward angle, side Wings secured to the sides at the said end of the casing, a scoo pivoted on the lower wall at the said end 0 the casing and comprisin a pluralit of sections, each having upwardly rounded fingers extendin from the lower end thereof and havin a ug on its under face at the juncture o the scoop with the fingers, a spiral conveyor in the casing, a feeder mechanism including blades disposed between the outer ribs of the conveyor and designed to be simultaneously brought between and out of such ribs when the conveyor is revolved, a triturator fixed in the casing at the rear of the conveyor, said casing having a ribbed compartment between the triturator and the conveyor, and said casing having a chamber on the lower wall thereof disposed below the triturator and communioating with said compartment, a rotary pump in the chamber, pipes leading from the chamber to the front end of the casing, and means for simultaneously propelling the easing and operating the conveyor and pump.

In testimony whereof I aflix my slgnature.

FRANK M. BECKER. 

